Orthodontics
Orthodontics (Teeth Alignment and Occlusion), Dental Braces in Newport News, Virginia
Both adults and children can benefit from having their teeth moved into better position, a dental discipline known as orthodontics. Sometimes the primary purpose of orthodontic treatment is functional, helping the patient to improve the way they chew or function. Sometimes the primary purpose of orthodontic treatment is cosmetic, to put the teeth into a position and alignment that makes them more attractive.
When possible, it is best for orthodontic treatment to begin as early as a problem can be corrected. This can be as early as 6-7 years old. For example, if a child does not appear to have enough space for all of their teeth to erupt properly, the amount of space available can actually be increased by expanding the child’s palate before it is fully formed. This can be done quite predictably with the use of a device called a palatal expander. There are other similar orthodontic devices that can be used to direct the growth of the jaw, to better accommodate teeth that have not yet erupted. For this reason, it is good for children to be evaluated orthodontically some time around first or second grade.
The most common method of orthodontic treatment is with braces. In this approach, teeth are moved by the use of wires that attach to the teeth with either bands that go around the teeth or brackets that are bonded to the teeth. This is the method of orthodontic treatment that offers the greatest control over the final position of the teeth. A second method is called Invisalign, which involves moving teeth with clear retainers that can be inserted and removed by the patient.
At the completion of orthodontic treatment, it is best for the patient to wear some type of retainer. Some retainers are bonded onto the teeth, but more often they are removable and are worn just at night. Failure to wear one’s retainers make it much more likely that the teeth will move back in the direction of where they were before they started orthodontic treatment.
